Street Paving

Thanks to voter approval of Measure A, the El Cerrito Pothole Repair, Local Street Improvement and Maintenance Measure (passed in February 2008), the City of El Cerrito was able to launch a comprehensive street pavement repair and maintenance program in 2008.

Prior to 2008, the City faced a backlog of street maintenance and repairs. The Measure A accelerated work plan was a multi-year , intensive pothole and street repair program designed to rapidly improve El Cerrito's street system and to complete the repairs in the most efficient and quickest way possible. The Measure A accelerated work plan involved repairing or resurfacing at least 70% of local streets in El Cerrito within four years. The pavement resurfacing treatment (Asphalt Overlay or Inlay, Cape Seal or Slurry Seal) was chosen for each street based on pavement condition and economic factors.

The Citizens Street Oversight Committee annually monitors the expenditures of Measure A revenue to ensure it conforms to the yearly Expenditure Plan adopted by the City Council.

Accelerate Work Plan Accomplishments

Originally, the accelerated work plan was schedule to take four years to complete. However, the City was able to complete all the planned work in just three years as indicated below.

In 2008, the City repaired 500,000 square feet of potholes and other pavement failures, repaved 1.3 miles of streets and constructed over 300 new curb ramps.

In 2009, the City resurfaced 26.7 miles of streets, constructed 12 new curb ramps and repaired 40 failing storm drains.

In 2010, the City resurfaced 15.7 miles of streets, constructed 18 new curb ramps and also repaired 16 inlets, 2 manholes, and 500 linear feet of failing storm drains.

With the accelerated repair work complete, the City currently has an on-going street maintenance and rehabilitation program to ensure the streets remain in good pavement condition.

Fall 2016 Construction

Pavement Condition Index (PCI)

The City uses the standard Pavement Condition Index (PCI) to rate streets on a 100-point scale, with failed streets rated at 0 and excellent streets at 100. A goal of the Measure A program was to raise the City's average PCI rating from about 52 in 2007 to about 70 by 2012. This goal was surpassed in 2010 when the City achieved a score of 85. As of 2015, the City of El Cerrito is among the top three cities in Bay Area for pavement conditions.

In late 2016, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) presented El Cerrito with an award for the best overall pavement management strategy of any jurisdiction in the Bay Area. Additionally, MTC noted El Cerrito has the third highest Pavement Condition Index (PCI) score in the region, only one point behind the highest cities.